Vol. 513 No. 1
718 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the legislation dealing with the teaching council will explicitly give the council a role in relation to dealing with bullying of teachers in the workplace; and when he will publish his proposals. [1096/00]
It is my intention to request the approval of the Government for the publication in the near future of the Teaching Council Bill. It is proposed that the principal function of the teaching council will be to regulate the teaching profession and the professional affairs of teachers through the establishment of standards, policies and procedures for the education and training of teachers and the maintenance of high professional standards.
In replying to this question it is assumed that what the Deputy has in mind is bullying of teachers by colleagues or senior staff. It is my intention that the council will have adequate powers to deal with such behaviour which I consider to be serious misconduct and unprofessional behaviour. The council, once established, will be responsible for the establishment, review and maintenance of a code of professional conduct for teachers. It is in that context that the issue of bullying can most effectively be specifically addressed rather than singling it out in the Bill as a particular form of misconduct. Breaches of the code of conduct will trigger grievance or disciplinary procedures in the first instance in most cases at school level and can also be the subject of inquiries by the council itself, leading, in cases of serious misconduct to removal from the register.
